Maggie Douglas

As part of a large collaborative USDA Northeast-SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) funded Ecosystems project, I am investigating the consequences for insect pest control of farming practices such as crop rotation, tillage, and nutrient management. Such practices may impact herbivore populations directly, or indirectly through their influence on natural enemies and plant defense. I am especially curious how changes in the farm habitat alter colonization and persistence of generalist predators. More broadly, I would like to use natural ecosystems as inspiration to improve low-input farming methods. When not in the lab I can usually be found in the garden, on my bike, or in a book.